Biofuel Economics

Biofuel Economics – A New Series   ( 2008-05-29 )

With all of the public interest in energy and biofuels at the moment, I thought it would be useful to start with a series of news releases that discuss the various economic aspects of biofuels.

Biofuel Economics: 2007 Energy Act Charts a New Biofuel Roadmap   ( 2008-06-12 )

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 sets the biofuel industry on an entirely new course of action.

Biofuels Economics: How Many Acres Will Be Needed For Biofuels? Part I   ( 2008-06-26 )

Economists are striving to delineate the impact of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act on crop acreage demand.

Biofuel Economics: How Many Acres Will Be Needed For Biofuels? Part II   ( 2008-07-10 )

It is very difficult to know at this stage what the implications for crop acreage are under the 2007 Energy Act.

Biofuel Economics: Will Pure Switchgrass Stands Be Required for Cellulosic Ethanol?   ( 2008-07-24 )

Whether or not pure stands of any perennial grass will be required depends on which conversion technology ends up being the most efficient and economical for cellulosic ethanol production.

Biofuel Economics: Will Ethanol Wean the U.S. from Oil Imports?   ( 2008-08-07 )

Initially, critics of the emerging ethanol industry questioned whether there really was a net gain in fossil fuel produced.

Biofuel Economics: Role of Irrigation in Growth of Biofuel Energy   ( 2008-08-21 )

In my forecast of new demand for North Dakota acreage to meet the federal biofuels mandate, I assumed demand for irrigated cropland would grow on par with dryland acreage.

Biofuel Economics: Biocomposites - New Uses for North Dakota Agricultural Fibers and Oils   ( 2008-09-04 )

The goal of NDSU’s newly created BioEpic Center is to identify new markets for biobased value-added products that result in greater profit potential than existing sales in agricultural commodity markets.

Biofuel Economics: The Importance of Carbon and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in New Biofuel Legislation   ( 2008-09-25 )

It is quite possible that future prices of ethanol will vary, depending on the fuel source used to heat the ethanol plant.

Biofuel Economics: How $700 Billion Bailout Will Affect Biofuels Industry - Part I   ( 2008-10-09 )

Accompanying the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act was a tax relief bill that extends and enhances a number of provisions benefitting the biofuels industry.

Biofuel Economics: How Will $700 Wall Street Bailout Affect Biofuels Industry - Part II   ( 2008-10-23 )

Oil prices have fallen by more than half since July as the severity of Wall Street’s problems became more apparent.

Biofuel Economics: Corncob Harvest Demonstration   ( 2008-11-07 )

Corncobs appear to be one of the more promising sources of biomass for cellulosic biofuel.

Biofuel Economics: EPA Mandates Increased Ethanol Use   ( 2008-11-20 )

The national blend rate for ethanol next year will be 10.21 percent.

Biofuel Economics: North Dakota’s Relative Biomass Potential   ( 2008-12-04 )

North Dakota often is viewed as the state with the the greatest potential for biomass production.

Biofuel Economics: Future of Renewable Energy is Secure   ( 2008-12-18 )

The California Air Resources Board passes legislation that secures the future of renewable energy.

New Energy Economics: Wind - What Is Its Value?   ( 2008-12-31 )

Many people have an initial impression that the economics of wind energy is easy to evaluate.

New Energy Economics: Work Plans for 2009   ( 2009-01-15 )

Gustafson shares an overview of 2009 projects.

New Energy Economics: N.D. Wind Energy Legislative Proposals   ( 2009-01-29 )

Existing and potential wind energy owners should review the provisions of bills introduced in the North Dakota Legislature.

New Energy Economics: Japanese Consumers: What is Carbon Footprint of N.D. Grains?   ( 2009-02-12 )

The grain industry is getting more questions from Japanese consumers who want to know what the carbon footprint is of the foods they are consuming.

New Energy Economics: Visit Our New Wind Energy Web Site   ( 2009-02-26 )

The Web site is up 24/7, so people can access the information at their convenience.

New Energy Economics: Carbon Cap and Trade   ( 2009-03-12 )

Under cap-and-trade, the government sets an annual cap on carbon emissions.

New Energy Economics: Markets for Traditional Corn Ethanol Narrowing   ( 2009-03-26 )

Many traditional corn grain ethanol plants are adopting new production methods in an effort to reduce their carbon footprints.

New Energy Economics: Liens on Wind Property Create Landowner Credit Problems   ( 2009-04-09 )

Landowners contemplating a wind project should review carefully the financial records of the developer and those firms aligned with the project.

New Energy Economics: Agricultural Implications of EPA Carbon Dioxide Declaration   ( 2009-04-23 )

The EPA’s new finding brings the U.S. closer to European nations that have agreed to Kyoto greenhouse gas limits and are pushing for a new international treaty.

New Energy Economics: Unintended Effects of Wind Energy – Aerial Spraying   ( 2009-05-07 )

The aviation industry is concerned that wind energy growth will endanger pilots and restrict the opportunities a neighbor may have for any aerial chemical application.

New Energy Economics: EPA Proposal Changes Biofuels Landscape   ( 2009-05-21 )

With unproven biofuels conversion technology, changing EPA regulations and weak financial markets, new investment capital is going to be difficult to procure.

New Energy Economics: Carbon Cap and Trade Seminar For USDA Economists   ( 2009-06-05 )

The seminar was timely, given the U.S. House Energy Committee’s passage of the Waxman-Markey climate legislation the prior week.

New Energy Economics: New Option to Finance Wind Development   ( 2009-06-18 )

A new federal incentive allows U.S. taxpayers to deduct 30 percent of the cost for installing new wind energy systems by way of a tax credit or obtain a 30 percent direct grant.

New Energy Economics: Potential Value of Carbon Offsets Supplied by N. D. Farmers and Ranchers   ( 2009-07-02 )

A cornerstone of the new legislation is the development of a carbon cap-and-trading scheme.